Page 44 of Catalyst

“Are you actually doing it?” Ellie squeaks, in either surprise or excitement. I’m not sure which.

“Of course, I am. I’m already fighting a raging boner thinking about all the ways I can defile you in that bed later.” I wink at her.

She bites her lip, and I can’t help but lean in and kiss her soundly. Ellie seems to bring something out in me I haven’t seen in a very long time. I can’t even remember the last time I did something this spontaneous just because I felt like it.

The past ten years have been spent carefully constructing a life that would bring success to my business. I’ve spent every day ensuring I did everything exactly as I was supposed to because I was always terrified that if I made a mistake, my world would come crashing down around me.

Ellie’s helped me see that I can still have fun and keep my business standing tall at the same time.

“Ellie! You made it!” a voice calls, breaking our kiss. “And you brought someone, too!”

I look up to find a blonde who looks exactly like Ellie, only a little older, standing in front of us. A guy stands right behind her, his hair perfectly coiffed and his tailored suit and tie buttoned and tied to perfection.

Is this what I look like at work? Do I come across this stiff and robotic? If it is, I’m changing immediately. I hate this guy on sight.

“Stephie, congratulations on your engagement. I’m so happy for you.” Ellie leans in to hug her sister and then turns to me. “This is Adam.”

I reach out to shake her hand. “Her boyfriend,” I finish for her. I’m not sure why she left that off, but I want her to make no mistake about our relationship. She grins at me, apparently pleased with my addition.

“It’s nice to meet you! I’m Stephanie, and this is Tag Rockford.”

I shake Tag’s limp hand, and I fight to keep my face from curling in disgust. In my ten years in business, I’ve become adept at reading people, and I could guarantee this guy is the reason Stephanie didn’t disown her parents as she should’ve.

“Are you Adam Ellis? The owner of Sidelines?” Tag asks.

I grit my teeth. I was hoping I could fly under the radar here and was glad Ellie didn’t give them my last name, but I should’ve known better. Rich people recognize other rich people. It’s like they have a radar for people they could potentially get something out of. It’s ridiculous. “I am,” I finally respond.

He looks at me as if he’s waiting for me to say something else about who I am. I glance at Ellie, unsure about what I’m supposed to do next. I’ve never felt like a fish out of water, but right now, I’ve never felt more out of place. If this is how Ellie grew up, I have even more sympathy for her.

“Right, well, I’m so glad you could make it. There’s plenty of food and drinks. Mom and Dad are soaking up the attention out on the patio, so maybe don’t go out there to save on the drama.” Stephanie grins as if she’s telling a joke, but her tone comes across as demanding there be no fighting between Ellie and her parents at the party.

“We’ll stay in our corner if they stay in theirs,” I respond, making it clear we won’t start anything, but if they come up to us, it’s a different story.

Stephanie raises her eyebrows at me and then looks at Ellie as if she’s surprised Ellie told me that she doesn’t get along with her parents.

Tag nods at us and then leads Stephanie across the room. They both smile at the other guests, chatting it up as if they’re living their best life. They probably are, if Ellie’s parents are funding their livelihoods.

“Did you grow up in this house?” I ask, to break up the silence hanging over us after the odd encounter.

“Yep, it’s pretty ostentatious, isn’t it?”

I look around, taking in all the expensive finishings, and try to imagine growing up in a house like this. “It’s imposing. I’m trying to picture me and my siblings roughhousing in this living room, and it’s just not computing.”

Ellie laughs. “Why do I get the feeling you guys still get rowdy when you’re together?”

“Because you’ve met Matthew. And you’d also be correct.”

“I think I’d like to see you and Matthew go at it one day. Could be very interesting.” Ellie wiggles her eyebrows up and down, making me laugh.

I grip her around her waist and pull her close. “I better be the only one you’re checking out, darling. I’d hate to have to show you who you belong to.”

“I don’t think you’d hate that at all.” Ellie grins at me.

“Not in the slightest,” I growl in her ear and revel in the shiver that moves through her body. I pull away from her and attempt to think of as many non-sexual things as I can to get my cock to go back down.

“Come on, caveman. Let’s see if we can find some more food than whatever that is.” Ellie points to a passing tray with tiny, grey, slimy-looking things, and I grimace.

She leads us through the house and toward the kitchen. It’s a hive of activity with waiters grabbing trays or setting them down to be refilled. We scope out the offerings, and Ellie gasps, making me startle.

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